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Dennis, a customer looked after by our Basildon team, had spent quite a bit of time not wanting to go out much before we started care with him. He was unsteady on his feet and needed support mobilising safely in and around the house. Dennis was quite withdrawn and didn’t have the confidence to go […]
Real-life stories from our customers and carers
Inspirational stories from the people we support and the carers that enable them to live as independently as possible.
Building connections with live-in care: Pete & Madelene’s story
7 November by Laura Belford-ThomasPete is 37 years old and living with cerebral palsy, and following a long spell in hospital, he began receiving live-in support from our central team. From a man who was once lacking in confidence with very little speech, Pete is now living happily and independently at home with the support of his live-in carer, […]
Fresh air in Southend-on-sea
28 October by Laura Belford-ThomasCare isn’t always just about supporting someone with the practicalities; it can be something as simple as popping in once a day to have a chat over a cup of tea or accompanying someone to the local park for some fresh air. This is exactly what Amanda, a carer from Southend-on Sea, did for her […]
Living with dementia: Ken’s story
27 September by Lauren KnowlesKen was diagnosed with vascular dementia following a stroke in 2015. He began receiving visiting support from our Sheffield branch in 2018 after he fell in the changing rooms following his regular swimming sessions. “I’ve been going swimming regularly since 2014, but after some time it became a problem. When I got into the changing […]
Swindon customer enjoys the ‘Greatest Day’ at Take That concert
12 September by Laura Belford-ThomasJulie, a carer at the Swindon branch of Helping Hands, supports a young lady called Kirsty, who has autism. Kirsty’s favourite band is Take That, and when they went on tour earlier this year, she was desperate to go and see them. This is where her carer Julie stepped in; she accompanied Kirsty to the […]
Helping a customer with dementia in Basingstoke
9 September by Laura Belford-ThomasOne of the carers at the Basingstoke branch has gone above and beyond the call of duty for a customer living with dementia. Carer Louise spent some of her care calls exploring the places her customer had travelled to in his younger years via Google Maps. As Louise’s customer struggled to navigate his way around […]
ME and Me: Naomi’s Story
1 July by Lauren KnowlesMeet Naomi: a bright, adventurous and talented woman who studied for her PhD at Cambridge University. In 2006, Naomi suffered a stroke which subsequently left her living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) – also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Here, Naomi tells us her story in her own words and explains how, with the […]
Living with ME: Lucy’s Story
7 May by Lauren KnowlesLucy was a normal, healthy and active teenager. A keen swimmer, member of a running club, hockey player and a volunteer for children with special educational needs, Lucy was preparing for a vibrant and exciting future. In her final year of Sixth Form, Lucy contracted chicken pox. After a few weeks away from college, Lucy […]
Sweethearts Jerry and Ella share their story
1 May by Laura Belford-ThomasMeet Jerry and Ella Charles. They found each other over 40 years ago when Jerry was a customer in Ella’s sweet shop and have been inseparable ever since. Since June 2017, the Helping Hands team in Barnet have been providing visiting care for the couple who live in Southgate, North London. After a period of […]
Hannah’s story: Living with cerebral palsy as a young adult
24 April by Laura Belford-ThomasMeet Hannah, a bright and bubbly 27-year-old with a great sense of humour and positive outlook on life. She loves music and was even lucky enough to watch the Rolling Stones live at the London Stadium in 2018! She also lives with cerebral palsy and has done since birth. Since starting care with Helping Hands […]